It has to be the greatest third round fixture in the history of Carabao Cup. Wednesday’s meeting between Burton Albion and Bournemouth at Pirelli Stadium featured three floodlight failures, a minimum of 28 minutes of added time and a giant killing.
League One Burton ultimately triumphed 2-0 over the visiting Premier League side, but the real story was the darkness that enveloped the land, the anarchic confusion over whether or not the match had been abandoned after the lights went down for a third time and the fact that no one had a goddamn clue how much time was remaining for a good portion of the match.
The Brewers took the lead in the 14th minute through Oliver Sarkic, and things continued in that vein until the 53rd minute. That’s when, to paraphrase Journey, the lights went down in the city.
Here’s the respective Twitter accounts of Burton and Bournemouth reacting through the proceedings.
Floodlights Fail For The First Time
There's a stoppage in play and both teams have had to leave the field of play...
Because the floodlights have gone off!53 | 1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
53. Remarkable. The floodlights have gone out at the @PirelliStadium.
The #Brewers fans on the popside chant "We're Burton Albion - we'll play in the dark".Bear with us...
Minute-by-minute updates https://t.co/XoAHWpgtP3#BAFC #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/fR7mLiia9X
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
Floodlight failure at the Pirelli Stadium. The officials have taken the players off the pitch 10 minutes into the second half with Burton leading Bournemouth 1-0. pic.twitter.com/0dHKU5hCKp
— Mr Geoff Peters (@mrgeoffpeters) September 25, 2019
They’re Back On And We’re Back On!
Right, after an eight minute stoppage the lights are back and we're up and running again.
Come on lads!!61 | 1-0 #BURBOU pic.twitter.com/cRuNuR2EVV
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
All the big clubs do fun light shows at the game, these days.
We’re back!!!#BAFC pic.twitter.com/GArTcBcCRX— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
Spoke Too Soon!
The floodlights lasted two minutes...
They're out again...63 | 1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
64. Erm. They've gone again....
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
OK, Now They’re Really, Really Back!
Right, they're on again...
Hopefully they last and we can find a way back into it!Could be some record stoppage time here!
72 | 1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
71. Right. Floodlights are back, for the time being. It looks like we're going to try again...
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
Oh God Dammit
THE FLOODLIGHTS ARE OUT AGAIN!
We're not sure what this means but we'll keep you posted...76 | 1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
So Is The Match Abandoned? Yes, It’s Abandoned.
76. MATCH ABANDONED.
The lights have unfortunately gone a third time and the referee has called the game. We were 1-0 up and good value and now the match will have to be replayed.Minute-by-minute updates https://t.co/XoAHWpgtP3#BAFC #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/WpLwfe6HV4
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
HOLD YOUR HORSES IT’S NOT ABANDONED!
Right, after much deliberation on whether it had been abandoned or not, we are UNDERWAY AGAIN.
Hopefully they can stay on as this game is at risk of being abandoned.We have no idea what minute it is
1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
STAY IN YOUR SEATS. The referee appeared to blow the final whistle but we're hearing the match may NOT have been abandoned just yet...#BAFChttps://t.co/ssUL1d9FO2
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
There Will Be 28 Minutes Of Added Time
90+1. We're into a minimum of 28 (TWENTY-EIGHT) additional minutes...
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) September 25, 2019
Right - the referee has indicated there will be 28 (TWENTY EIGHT!) minutes of added time
Wonder if that's a @Carabao_Cup record?90 | 1-0 #BURBOU
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 25, 2019
Nathan Broadhead would then double Burton’s lead in some strange minute of stoppage time, easing the Brewers into the fourth round. They'll play Leicester City at Pirelli Stadium.
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